AT&T brings back unlimited data plans for its DirecTV and U-verse subscribers

AT&T is bringing back unlimited data. The number-two wireless carrier discontinued its original unlimited plans years ago, but it's resuscitating the all-you-can-eat option as a cross-promotion with its DirecTV and U-verse television services. Unlimited data will cost $100 per month for a single smartphone, and you'll be able to add additional smartphones for $40 per month each. Before you get too excited about the new plans, note that you'll have to be a DirecTV or U-verse subscriber to sign up for unlimited data. If you're a cord cutter, don't live in a U-verse market, or can't install a DirecTV satellite dish, you'll have to settle for a standard Mobile Share plan. However, if you do sync up your television service with your AT&T plan, you'll also get another $10 off your bill monthly, per the company's existing promotions.

It's clear where the company is going here: it's leveraging its new DirecTV acquisition and existing U-verse TV services to promote video streaming on the go. While the plan itself doesn't bundle in specific home TV packages, it's designed to work hand-in-hand with DirecTV and U-verse's out-of-home streaming apps. It just so happens that watching lots of video quickly burns up your data allowance -- and AT&T's more than happy to offer an unlimited plan to fix that problem. Of course, if you'd rather just watch Netflix and use your AT&T phone separately, you'll have to keep an eye on your data usage. Such is the power of mergers.